Chapter 32
AVERY
Icheck on Lila and her friends. There was a situation with burnt microwave popcorn, a melted bowl, and a smoke alarm that wouldn’t stop beeping.
Obviously, I need to teach Lila a lot more in the kitchen, but I guess it’s good to know the smoke alarm works. The kitchen counter is covered in the ingredients to make no-bake chocolate cookies. Peanut butter, cocoa powder, oats.
I sigh. I have an urgency to clean things up and head back over to watch a movie with Max.
“Okay, ladies. If we make it, we clean it up. Let’s do some dishes, and then you can turn on a movie or something.”
“My mom just texted, and I have to go home,” Serena says.
I raise an eyebrow, wondering if it would be a bad idea to see this text message. Is it real, or does she want to get out of cleaning up the mess?
Serena leaves, and Lila, Ashley, Tatum, and Brooklyn help clean up a little, but I feel like I’m trying to train monkeys for their thought process.
I open the windows to keep from breathing in the burnt popcorn smell, then work on helping with the dishes.
Lila reaches for the lids of the cocoa powder and the oats. As she stands up to put them on, Brooklyn accidentally bumps into her, causing Lila to swipe her arm to catch herself from falling on the floor. She manages to stay upright, but in the process, she knocks down both containers.
We all stand there, stunned, some of us covered in chocolate dust. I finally break the silence with a laugh, and it slowly eases the tension in the room.
“How about you three go clean up and turn on a movie or something? I’ll take care of this.”
Lila frowns. “I’m sorry, Avery. Are you sure you don’t want me to clean it up?”
I swipe at the chocolate dust under her eyes. “I appreciate it. But I think we’ve had enough chaos for one night.”
I’m excited to see she’s starting to find people she can relate with, and while I know there will still be some drama, I’m grateful for the chance for her to learn.
Except I didn’t want to learn what happens to a room when cocoa powder goes flying. Even twenty minutes after vacuuming the floor and wiping off surfaces, I’m still finding spots on the wall and cabinets.
Taking a deep breath, I pull out my phone to text.
Hey. This is Avery. I promise I want to watch a movie. Just trying to clean up the absolute hurricane I found when I walked in. Hopefully there in fifteen.
Max
I believe in miracles. Especially the ones where I get a text from Avery Parker. No rush.
Max
Do you need help?
I think I’ve got it down to a manageable section now. But thank you.
By the time I’m done, the other two girls have left to go home.
“You can watch for another thirty minutes and then head to bed. We’re going to have a big crew tomorrow, and I would love to have your help in the coffee shop if you have time.”
Lila smiles. “Sounds good. Where are you going?”
How do I say this without her reading too much into it. “Our neighbor invited me over to watch a movie.”
Lila rolls her eyes. “Great. Now you’re falling in love with the criminal.”
I can tell by her expression that she doesn’t really mean it.
“Well, if I don’t come back, you’ll know where to start looking.”
I shut the door and slip back over to see Max. He’s got the TV on and all the lights off. It looks like a thriller movie is playing, one I haven’t seen before.
“What are we watching?” I ask.
I walk over and see that, instead of being wide awake, he’s somehow fallen asleep on the couch.
I grab a blanket and place it over him. I’m not sure if I want to go back over to my apartment just yet, so I sit on the couch next to him, finding You’ve Got Mail, which I haven’t been able to watch in a while.
There’s another blanket, and I cover myself with it as I snuggle into the couch.
I don’t know why I’m so tired, probably because of everything that’s happened in the last few weeks and then from today, but in a few moments, everything goes black.